Shloka 55

एकोनविंशतिशिवावतारवर्णनम्

Description of the Nineteen Manifestations/Avatāras of Śiva

Devanagari script

शिष्या धर्मरताः सर्वे वेदवेदांगपारगाः । लिंगार्चनरता नित्यं बाह्याभ्यन्तरतः स्थिताः

Transliteration

śiṣyā dharmaratāḥ sarve vedavedāṃgapāragāḥ | liṃgārcanaratā nityaṃ bāhyābhyantarataḥ sthitāḥ

Translation

ศิษย์ทั้งปวงตั้งมั่นในธรรม เชี่ยวชาญพระเวทและเวทางคะ ทั้งหลายบูชาศิวลึงค์เป็นนิตย์ ดำรงมั่นคงทั้งภายนอกในความประพฤติและภายในในดวงใจ

Word by Word

• शिष्याः: disciples
• शिष्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• धर्म-रताः: devoted to dharma
• धर्म-रताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (रम् धातु, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त/विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (धर्मे रताः)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; सार्वनामिक-विशेषणम्

• वेद-वेदाङ्ग-पारगाः: proficient in the Vedas and Vedāṅgas
• वेद-वेदाङ्ग-पारगाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + वेदाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वेदेषु वेदाङ्गेषु च पारगाः = proficient)

• लिङ्ग-अर्चन-रताः: devoted to worship of the liṅga
• लिङ्ग-अर्चन-रताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (अर्च् धातु, ल्युट्-प्रत्ययान्त भाव/कर्म-नाम) + रत (रम् धातु, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (लिङ्गस्य अर्चने रताः)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• बाह्य-अभ्यन्तरतः: externally and internally
• बाह्य-अभ्यन्तरतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अभ्यन्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तसिल्-प्रत्यय, अव्ययीभावार्थ)
• Form: अव्ययम्; द्वन्द्व-समासपूर्वकं तसिलन्तम्; अर्थः—'बाह्यतः च अभ्यन्तरतः च' (from outside and from within)

• स्थिताः: established/steadfast
• स्थिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतभावे कृदन्तः (past participle: 'standing/established')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: General: nitya-liṅgārcana with outer purity and inner devotion is presented as a direct means to Śiva’s favor and spiritual steadiness.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches that true Śaiva life unites scriptural understanding (Veda-Vedāṅga) with lived dharma and unwavering devotion to Śiva through Liṅga-worship—purity and steadiness must exist both in outer action and inner intention.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The verse presents Liṅga-arcana as a constant discipline: Saguna worship (ritual, offerings, observances) is validated when matched by inner bhakti and recollection of Śiva, making worship not merely ceremonial but transformative.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Daily Liṅga-pūjā (arcana) supported by disciplined conduct and inner contemplation—maintaining outer purity (ācāra) and inner steadiness (bhāva), ideally accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”